ヘヴィーＤの早すぎる死:Heavy D Rest in Peace

3年ほどまえ、ヘヴィーDが激痩せしたことがあって、私たちは「病気なのだろうか……。大きくなければヘヴィーDじゃない。」と心配したものです。ノスタルジックなオールド・スクール懐メロ大会といったイベントにはいっさい出演せず、オフ・ブロードウェイ、映画など独自の活動をしていたらしく、ヒップホップ界ではあまりウワサを聞くことはありませんでした。ところが先月、15年ぶりにBET Awardsにサプライズ・ゲストとして出演、”Nuttin’ But Love,” “Is It Good to You,” “Now That You Fund Love”といった昔のヒット・メドレーを元気に披露してくれたのです。昔と同じビッグな体で久々にテレビに登場したラヴリーな姿を見て、「あ、元気にしているんだ。よかった。」と安心したばかりでした。

へヴィーDのヒット曲というとすぐに浮かぶのがオージェイズをサンプルした「Now That You Found Love」です。ニュー・ジャック・スウィング全盛期の91年にリリースされて大ヒット、しばらくNYのどこのラジオ局でもかかっていました。あれから確か3年後、日本に一時帰国をした時のこと。岡山県にお寺ばかり密集した高梁という町があります。お坊さんの友達に会いに行ったのですが、あいにく家族が病気になったとかで相手をしてもらえず、近所の遊園地に行くよう勧められました。小さな町で他にこれといった娯楽がなかったのです。平日だったせいかほとんど誰もいない、とてもさびれた遊園地でした。なぜがアメリカのポップ・ソングが園内のスピーカーから流れていてそれがかえって物悲しく聞こえます。それも、へヴィーD＆ザ・ボーイズの「Now That You Found Love」がかかっていたのです。こんなところでへヴィーDを聴くとは……..大好きな曲だったのですが、なんともうら寂しい感じがしました。ま、地方の町でもかかるほどヘヴィーDは有名だったということでしょうか…..。

Rapper Heavy D died last week at the age of 44. He collapsed outside his Beverly Hills home and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It has been reported that his death was due to respiratory distress and that no foul play was involved.

The Now That We Found Love hitmaker, who lost 150lbs in 2008, was embarking on daily runs and frequent gym sessions having fell off the health wagon, weighed 344 pounds as the time of his death.

Heavy D, real name Dwight Arrington Myers was born in 1967 in Jamaica and raised in Mount Vernon, rose to fame in the 1990’s as the front-man for the group “Heavy D and the Boyz.”

Alongside his bandmates G-Whiz, Trouble T. Roy and Eddie F., Heavy D made Hip-Hop history with hit songs like “Now That We Found Love” and “Nuthin But Love.”

He recently performed on the BET Hip Hop Awards and is in the movie “Tower Heist,” and was getting ready to release a new CD later this year.

Tributes for the lead rapper of Heavy D and the Boyz have flooded out thick and fast from members of the entertainment industry.

Legendary DJ Marley Marl posted, “Yesterday I was informed of the untimely passing of my long time friend and artist that I made major HIP HOP history with Dwight Meyers aka “Heavy D” I am devastated by the horrible news. Dwight Meyers aka “Heavy D” was one the nicest people you would ever wanna know in your life time. My condolences go out to the Meyers Family & His extended Family. My dude Hev you will be missed by many. Have a peaceful jouney my friend.”

P. Diddy had a special connection to the dead rapper.

‘Heavy D is the person who game me my first chance in the music industry,’ he said. ‘He got me my internship at Uptown. He believed when no one else did. My heart is broken. Please pray for my man Heavy D and his family.’

Monifah met successful rapper Heavy D, then president of Uptown Records, while she was recording a demo for Rapture. The two hit it off and discovered that they shared mutual friends, and forged a long friendship that eventually led to a recording contract. Monifah began singing and touring as a back-up singer for Maxi Priest, Heavy D asked her to record a reference vocal for one of his artists. Heavy D liked it so much that he said, “You know what? You just started your album. “ That was how her debut album, “Moods……Moments” came about.

Heavy D Funeral Services

Funeral services for the late Heavy D will take place in his hometown of Mount Vernon, N.Y., on Nov. 18 at the historic Grace Baptist Church. Fans will be able to pay their respects to the rapper at a public memorial on Nov. 17 from noon to 7pm EST followed by a wake at 8pm EST.

Heavy D’s burial services, however, will be a private, invite-only affair for only family members and friends. The surviving members of Heavy D & the Boyz — DJ Eddie F and dancer G-Whiz — are expected to attend along with Diddy, the Wayans Bros. and Mary J. Blige.